"Dominator I" sounds more like a monster truck than a collection of small boxes that collectively erase 20 years of relatively secure wireless phone service, doesn't it? Alas, what you're looking at here is a convenient, plug-and-play solution for exploiting the hard work the world's hacking community has put into
cracking the A5/1 encryption used on GSM networks in Europe and the US over the past few years. The system consists of two nondescript white boxes, two directional antennas that you'll point in the direction of your victim, and a laptop that you can use to get a glimpse at all of the phones currently connected to your nearest cell site and record up to four active calls simultaneously -- and if you're more of the text messaging type, Dominator I's got you covered there, too, with full access to SMS. The company claims that the system was "declassified only last week" and is completely undetectable both by the operator and the end user, putting it in this rare nexus of "awesome" and "completely terrifying." It can't do the 128-bit A5/3 used in UMTS, but now that it's been
cracked in a somewhat practical way, we're sure the Dominator II can't be far behind. Follow the break for Meganet's video of the system in action.
posted May 10th 2010 6:02PM
And now we'll see schools use this system to bust the text-in-classers!
@iHakr
And then record hours of it, have conversations about it over email, and then claim they didn't even know how to use the Dominator I...
@iHakr
I'm going back to tin cans and string for all my shady calls.
@bolezhinkov
I think I'll learn smoke signals, and just announce everything to the world. Facebook "updates" and now this; privacy's dead. ;_;
Dude...
@FORDY
I'm sure that the government and sophisticated criminals have already had this capability for years.
@Blunt
Right, but you never hear about it then!
@Blunt
So have I....
What do you think I hide under my cardboard box?
Why are they declassifying this?
@Spiraling Shape Because they have something even better that is still classified.
@Spiraling Shape Probably because they have better ones. I'd still like one though. =)
@FORDY
So what does this mean for telephone banking and texting systems all those banks are promoting nowadays? And when is the 3G version coming out? Dominator II anyone?
@FORDY
Time for me to start using VoIP for calling my bank...
Major nerd want.
awesome hacking tool is awesome
Gotta get me one of those!
How much for this Denominator?
GSM Pwned
@Threlly off to Verizon I go!
@dodgerfan
I know, I've been monitoring your conversations =)
broken crypto is broken
So...how come they don't use something like AES?
@r3loaded
Because sophisticated crypto methods will take up more processing time, drive up cost and probably lower capacity (AES overhead). In short, telcos lose money.
@Aguiluz Don't forget about the phones that will also have to decrypt it. Cheap pay as you go phones will go away pretty fast.
This is damn scary.
So, how illegal is this and how many years in federal PMITA prison will one get for using this? Seems like one could spy on a bank call center... my bank, for example, asks me to key in my SS number...
@whiskers
Not saying I would want to use this, but more like "I wouldn't want to touch this device with a 10-foot pole"
@whiskers
Use a land line for anything that requires better security.
@whiskers Does your Bank's call center use Cell phones? I have seen a lot of call centers in my day, but never a cell based one.
After the 3G exploit is included, I can just see AT&T's new slogan:
AT&T - Nation's Fastest [Cracked] 3G Network
@iheartgadgetz
If by cracked, you mean broken, then it already is....
@iheartgadgetz
"Fastest 3G"
tehehehehehehehehehehehe
wow, the Wii can be modded to anything now.
(right of laptop)
I'm safe. My AT&T plan drops my calls every few seconds, so that my information is never shared.
Wow, sends shivers down my back
Sounds like the name of a sex toy.
I lol'd
Now we need to see this in use on Chuck.
I'm not totally convinced that this thing is totally undetectable. By their own admission this creates a new cell to capture target traffic (at 3:24 - 3:32 in the video). Wouldn't the the carrier have a log of a new cell appearing in their network? Someone with detailed knowledge in this field please explain / clarify.
@Alan Dixon I'm no expert, but I would think that there are a few reasons for a new cell to enter an area. Phones being turned on, travelers entering the area, etc. Also, If this device can do what it does, spoofing a cell's identifier would be easy.
As with most illegal acts, the longer you stick around doing it, the better your chance of being found. A new cell popping up for 1-5 minutes and then dropping would be tough to pick out, even more so with spoofed info.
And, as always, its just not good SOP to give out your security methods and protocols. A device as refined as the Dominator surely comes with ample protection.
Judging by black scuffs, car powering cords, and full set of ordering options.
This thing has had real world field tests many times.
How is this even legal? Is this meant only for government law and intelligence agencies? (Police, CIA, FBI, whatever) Because frankly it kind of freaks me out, and it seems like the kind of technology the wrong people could get their hands on and use pretty easily.
@Mindfield
Using it to listen to someone's call without their consent would be illegal. Owning the equipment wouldn't be. Think of it like lock picks. It's perfectly legal to own them and know how to use them, but not legal to break into someone's house.
Look out Tiger Woods....TMZ has a new toy!
It wouldn't be so creepy if they would stop referring to everyone as "targets"...
@Drummrgy
I agree, should have used the word "victim."
Oh wait...
Use a voice encrypted software like cryptophone or secvoice. These smartphones softwares can protect you against this kind of product. There is others in the market.
lol, join the US Army and deploy to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo or Africa... I've personally worked with people who operate equipment like this on a far greater scale, from vehicle mounting antennas that reach up to 300 meter radius, to small Cessnas that reach upwards of 3 mile radius, all the way to AC-130 with 15+ mile range and satellite trackers as well.
It really blows your mind the first mission you do and your able to trade down Abu WhatsHisFace from a known Pakistani foreign fighter IMEI or IMSI that pinged hot on his phone during there 30 second phone call via satellite phones...
If Detectives McNulty and Freamon had this technology, they would have gotten Marlo and Avon a lot quicker.
$&@! Marlow....